Our industry has been around for a long time, and with that has come some standards for how we practice. Although technology and codes lead to occasional changes, the general principles stay the same. The most important thing to understand is that getting a project designed and built is a process, it takes time. Decisions are not made all at once, but throughout the course of a project.

Architecture Design Phases

STANDARD PHASES

Standard phases bring an order to the design process. Each phase has a purpose and a level of expectation. In general the phases are sequential and you will sign off on the completion of each phase, permitting the project to move forward based on the decisions made up to that point. The time frame to complete each phase varies depending on the complexity of your project. Here are the six phases:

Conceptual Design

Research and determine the owner’s criteria for the project custom-fit to you and the way you inhabit residential space.
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Schematic Design

Explore design concepts.
Then present options and
narrow them down to
one preferred concept.
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Design Development

Refine/develop design so most major design decisions are made. Preliminary layout of structural and mechanical systems.
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Construction Docs

Select finishes & fixtures and prepare the technical docs required for construction and obtaining agency approvals.
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Construction Bidding

To get pricing from a
contractor to set the cost of
the project and
obtain building permit.
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Construction Admin

Observe construction.
Answer contractor questions, resolve design details, and handle changes.
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